Starting from 21 November, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, well known editor and long time labour rights activist, will stand trial on charges of lèse majesté. He faces 30 years' imprisonment and has been denied bail four times despite his constitutional right to bail. Please sign here to get Somyot out of jail.

Somyot has made several requests for release on bail but his fourth bail request was again denied on 1 November 2011. If Somyot remains in prison throughout the trial and is denied bail once again he will have been imprisoned for over a year by the time the trial finishes. A verdict may not be pronounced for several months after the trial making his detention even longer.

CCC is deeply concerned that Somyot is being denied bail just so he can remain in prison throughout his trial period and that this could ultimately influence the outcome of his case; around 98% of all Lese Majeste cases result in the defendant being found guilty. The lack of bail and current detention conditions decrease Somyot’s ability to properly defend himself.  

The continued denial of bail is in violation of the constitutional guarantee for a right to bail under Thai law as well as the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. CCC, along with colleagues and supporters of Somyot around the world are asking people to help pressure the authorities to allow Somyot the right to bail.

CCC, along with several other key organisations sent
a letter (316.57 kB) calling on the Prime minister to intervene in this case and ensure bail is granted, Somyot is released and the lese majeste laws are amended.

We ask you now to send your own letter to the Thai Prime Minister and the President of the Supreme Court .

The hearing dates for the Prosecutor's witnesses will be held on 21 November 2011, 19 December 2011, 16 January 2012, and 13 February 2012 in various provinces while the dates for the Defendant's witnesses will be held during April and May 2012.  CCC will be issuing live reporting and regular updates, photos and testimonies from the hearings.

You can follow CCC's coverage of Somyot's  trial on Facebook and Twitter

Please take action and sign this petition to the Thai Prime Minister

The President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Thailand
6 Ratchadamnoen Nai Road,
Prabarommaharatchawang, Phranakorn,
Bangkok 10200  Thailand
 
And:
 
HE Ms Yingluck Shinawatra
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand
Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District
Bangkok 10300, Thailand

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you in connection with the upcoming trial and continued detention of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk who will stand trial on charges of lèse majesté from 21 November 2011 until 4 May 2012 and who could face the maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment.   He has been in pre-trial detention for more than nine months since the arrest by officials from the Department of Special Investigation in April 2011.

The Thai Constitution affords the right to a speedy and fair trial. We are concerned Somyot Prueksakasemsuk may not be accorded these basic rights. We believe that by holding the hearings across Thailand with no evident reason places a severe and unnecessary risk to Somyot's health and security. We believe the denial of bail is part of an ongoing pattern of harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders in Thailand. We ask the Thai judicial authorities to ensure that the rights of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk are upheld during his detention and that he is accorded his right to a fair trial, including the right to bail and the holding of the court sessions in Bangkok.

We respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and calls on States to ensure that they can carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.  
We ask you to ensure that  
 

• Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is released. Failing his immediate and unconditional release, we ask that Somyot Prueksakasemsuk be granted his right to bail, in accordance with fair trial standards under domestic and international law;
• The remaining court hearings are held in Bangkok including the upcoming prosecution witness hearing on the 13th February;
• Human rights defenders in Thailand, especially those working on freedom of expression, are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment;

Yours Sincerely,